Chasing Stars

B i r t h d a y M o r n i n g

      I drowsily blinked my eyes open, to find Michelle's beaming face staring down at me. I flashed her a smile.

     "Good morning" I yawned, voice still heavy with sleep.

    "Guess what day it is?" Michelle asked, her voice brimming with excitement.

      I leisurely stretched, wrinkling my nose in deep thought.

    "Its Wednesday" I said.

     "Nope"

I looked at the calendar tacked next to my bed, and quirked an eyebrow.

  Michelle gave me an impacient glare.

     I sighed dramatically. "I don't know Michelle. You tell me what day it is"

    She bounced up and down on the balls of her feet, unable to conceal her enthusiasm. "Guess" she yelled. "Guess! Guess! Guess!"

   My mom poked her head through the door. "What's going on in here?"

   "Tess doesn't remember what day it is!"

  I grinned. "My brain must be in vacation" I teased.

   "It's your birthday!" Michelle blurted out, unable to bear the weight of the secret any longer.

   I gasped in wonder, and widened my eyes. "Oh yeah it is! How did I forget?"

    Michelle giggled at my surprised expression.

   "What would I ever do without you Michelle?"

   She looked at me somberley. "I don't know" she said seriously.

    I laughed and tried to tickle her, but she squealed and ran away, evading my clutches.

   I hopped out of the bed, heading to the bathroom.

    "Happy Birthday honey." My mom kissed me on the cheek. "Anything special planned for today"

    It was the same question every year, but today I had a different answer.

    "Yeah I do" I said casually.

  My mom looked at me. "Really?"

      "I thought we could go to the beach today?" I said it like a question.

    "Oh. Sure! A trip will do me some good!" my mom said happily.

" Would it be okay if..." I trailed off.

     "If what?"

  "If I brought a friend along?" I asked hesitantly. "His name is Austin. Austin Reynold."